The Morning After: Wednesday, December 13th 2017

Gears of War 3 gets $30 'season pass,' first DLC in November

Gears of War 3 will have a "season pass" for its downloadable content -- a strategy we're seeing used by Noir-ly everyone with a long term, post-launch DLC plan. Microsoft claims the 2400 Microsoft point ($30) season pass will "guarantee a 33 percent discount on the game add-ons," compared to purchasing them individually when released. The pass will be available on September 20 and include an "exclusive" Liquid Metal Weapon Set.

The season pass will cover the "first four" installments of DLC, which will be released over the next year, with the first planned for November. No word yet if there will be more beyond that to squeeze from, er, generously discount to Gears fans.

Gears of War 3 launches in Standard ($60), Limited ($80) and Epic ($150) editions on September 20.

Gallery: Gears of War 3 'Season Pass' announcement | 2 Photos

Grab Your Ticket to a Year of Game Add-ons with the "Gears of War 3" Season Pass Available Sept. 20 Microsoft and Epic announce initial "Gears 3" DLC plans and how to guarantee a 33 percent discount on the game add-ons

The launch of "Gears of War 3" on Sept. 20 is still a few weeks away, but Microsoft and Epic Games are already announcing that there's more to come by the way of multiple game add-ons for the year's biggest blockbuster. Revealed today, the "Gears of War 3" Season Pass entitles you to the first four installments of downloadable content that will roll out over the course of the next year, with the first releasing this November.

Adding hours of campaign and multiplayer mayhem, these game add-ons will be must-haves for any "Gears" fan, and the "Gears of War 3" Season Pass is your ticket to getting them at a discount the day they release. Available Sept. 20 for 2400 Microsoft points on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, the season pass represents a 33 percent savings versus purchasing the add-ons individually, and also includes an exclusive Liquid Metal Weapon Set.

The spectacular conclusion to one of the most celebrated sagas in video games, "Gears of War 3" has already surpassed 1.3 million pre-orders worldwide, making it the fastest pre-selling Xbox exclusive in the history of the platform. As further testament to the immense anticipation surrounding the game, 1.3 million players played more than 20 million matches in the "Gears of War 3" multiplayer beta this spring, helping refine and polish the hotly anticipated juggernaut.

Developed by acclaimed studio Epic Games, "Gears of War 3" launches worldwide on Sept. 20, 2011 (and in Japan on Sept. 22), and is available for preorder today in three distinct editions – Standard ($59.99 USD), Limited ($79.99) and Epic ($149.99). For additional details on the game, please visit gearsofwar.xbox.com.